PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Almost half of Finland’s habitat types and 12% of the Finnish species are threatened. The main reason for this is the decline and deterioration of habitats due to intensified forest management, the overgrowth of open habitats, and climate change. Halting biodiversity loss requires fast, comprehensive and coordinated action.
The resources to combat biodiversity loss and implement the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 are scarce. It is evident that there is need to use available resources more efficiently to make sufficient improvement in the state of biodiversity in Finland.
OBJECTIVES
Priodiversity LIFE aims at the full implementation of Prioritised action framework (PAF) objectives. Instead of concentrating on one habitat type, Priodiversity LIFE will have a more holistic approach and targets all terrestrial and freshwater habitats as an entity. Marine underwater habitats and riparian habitats are covered by the LIFE-IP Biodiversean project (2021-2029). Together with the ended Freshabit LIFE IP project, the 3 strategic nature projects will secure all habitat types and will build national capacity to secure the full implementation of PAF.
The Priodiversity LIFE project will use 3 key approaches:
- regional biodiversity action plans
- total management approach
- capacity building for biodiversity know-how and funding
Although the overall objective of Priodiversity LIFE is to cover the whole Finland, the project will focus on 8 regions. These areas represent the variety of Finnish habitat types well and the operational models from these areas are easily replicated to the neighbouring regions. Based on their experience, the Priodversity regions will guide the remaining 11 regions through the same process.
In addition to using established restoration methods, the project will develop and test new restoration methods for waterfowl lakes suffering from eutrophication and browning, pollinator-friendly land management, overgrown hay-meadows, industrial areas, invasive plant species, forestry practices and combating alien invasive brook trout.
Priodiversity LIFE has 5 specific objectives.
- Restoring impaired habitats. Priodiversity LIFE will present a new collaborative approach, the Regional Biodiversity Action Plans (ReBAPs), for recognising the biodiversity hotspots and connecting green infrastructure. By the end of the project, 8 regions will have ReBAPs and with the support of the project it is expected that all 19 regions in Finland will have a ReBAP 5 years after the project.
- Improving the biodiversity conservation network. Priodiversity LIFE will contribute to improving of the biodiversity conservation network through ReBAPs. It is expected that 1 500 – 3 000 hectares (ha) of permanent conservation areas will be established, and 80 – 100 ha of buffer zones managed or protected on important biodiversity hotspot areas and Natura 2000 areas.
- Improving co-operation networks and enhance know-how. Priodiversity LIFE will improve co-operation of networks, enhance know-how and holistic understanding of the importance of biodiversity at several levels (cooperation between different ministries; environmental administration; biodiversity professionals and operators; regional actors and researchers).
- Developing data management and availability. Accurate and up-to-date data is the key for successful restoration and management, and other biodiversity actions. The project aims to make the existing data interoperable and open; ensure the needed data for ReBAPs; gather and analyse the monitoring data and fill in the remaining information gaps.
- Mobilising biodiversity funding. Priodiversity LIFE will mobilise new biodiversity funding by establishing a Biodiversity Funding Hub. It will facilitate at least 20 complementary projects closely linked to Priodiversity LIFE.
RESULTS
The project’s expected results are the restoration and management of:
- 1 840 - 2 370 ha of peatland (bogs and mires) by blocking of ditches
- 40 – 50 areas of peatlands by returning water routes
- 330 – 440 ha of forest habitats
- 115 – 150 km of streams
- 220 – 295 springs
- 555 – 775 ha of semi-natural grasslands
- 210 – 340 ha of open riparian habitats.
For the state-owned and private forests, the project aims to:
- restore 1 930 – 2 530 ha of peatlands
- remove 100 – 150 migration barriers
- control-burn 800 – 1 000 ha
- restore 110 – 235 ha forested habitats (herb-rich forests and sunlit habitats)
- restore 30 – 40 springs
- establish 30 – 40 wetlands
The total estimated area for restoration and management actions is approximately 80 km2 of which 60 km2 in protected areas and 20 km2 in the connecting green infrastructure areas.
It is planned to expand the restoration and management areas substantially with complementary funding already during the project. The total area foreseen to be managed at the end of the project with complementary funding is 300 – 400 km2.
The area of new protected areas funded through voluntary forest biodiversity METSO programme is expected to be 2 000 ha.
